When it comes to foot and ankle health, quality care can make a world of difference. At Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney (BSW McKinney), the experienced staff with the orthopedics and sports medicine services can help patients get back on their feet and return to an active, pain-free lifestyle.
BSW McKinney’s foot and ankle orthopedic specialty offers:
- Orthopedic expertise: The fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons on the medical staff here in McKinney are experts in the evaluation and treatment of foot and ankle injuries and disorders.
- Individualized treatment: From professional athletes with sports injuries to individuals with everyday foot and ankle pain, our goal is to get you back to your desired level of activity without pain.
- Comprehensive care: The foot and ankle orthopedic specialists on our medical staff will work closely with a team of physicians and health professionals when needed— including vascular surgeons, endocrinologists and rheumatologists—to optimize your care.
Dr. Eitan Ingall, a fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon on the medical staff at BSW McKinney, shared his insight about treating common foot and ankle injuries and answered some FAQs regarding conditions and recovery processes.
As a foot and ankle doctor, what are the most common injuries you see people come in for? How can these injuries be prevented?
“The most common acute injury that I see is an ankle sprain. Fortunately, these injuries are treated non-operatively with a short period of immobilization. We may occasionally send patients to physical therapy for some exercises to do at home, but people generally recover very well.
Other common injuries would be ankle fractures or Achilles ruptures, which are sometimes treated with surgery.
Also seen are underlying foot deformities or overuse causing tendonitis around the ankle. Of course, exhausting conservative management options before jumping into any operation is preferred.
Another common issue is Plantar Fasciitis, which is an inflammation at the insertion site of the heel bone. Individuals may feel pain that is deep in the base of the heel bone where it meets the arch. It can be a pesky condition to treat, but fortunately, it generally goes away and gets better with good and thorough stretching.”
What impact does good foot and ankle health make in an individual’s life?
“Construction workers, farmers, teachers, athletes, healthcare professionals and others who spend their day on their feet and rely on being able to walk comfortably to make their living are most often affected by foot and ankle conditions.
If you’ve ever had an injury that’s forced you to be non-weight bearing or use crutches for a period of time, you know how debilitating and frustrating that can be. Therefore, good foot and ankle health is closely linked with mental health and overall well being. Just having a routine around being outside and active because it uplifts a lot of aspects of your life.”
What foot and ankle support features should shoes have to help prevent injury?
“It’s challenging to make shoe wear recommendations because everybody’s feet are just so different and people’s preferences are variable. That being said, there are a couple of things that people should note:
First of all, it’s important to wear sensibly supportive shoes. If you can pick up your shoes and bend them in half, that’s not a supportive shoe.
When you’re talking about sneakers, look at the heel drop. The heel drop of a shoe is generally somewhere between seven-10 millimeters from the heel to the forefoot. A larger heel drop, encourages heel strike, and a more neutral heel drop, encourages more of a midfoot or forefoot strike. It’s something runners in particular may pay attention to.
There are also certain conditions where a specific shoe is probably better. For example, patients with insertional Achilles tendonitis do better with a backless clog because the rubbing from the heel goes away and the lift of the heel alleviates some of the tension on the Achilles.
Folks with certain patterns of arthritis or foot deformities may benefit from a rocker bottom shoe because it can prevent some of that midfoot stress that occurs with walking that can be painful for people.”
Bunions are a common concern for many people. What are bunions, what causes them, and what can individuals do to prevent them from developing?
“Bunions may be caused by shoe wear, genetics, trauma or a combination of these but we don’t always know why bunions happen. While some people may feel self-conscious about the way the bunions look, if they aren’t causing them pain, people should try their best not to worry too much and use a toe spacer or a strap to keep the toe straight.
For individuals who are experiencing pain despite trying conservative options, there are dozens of ways to surgically correct bunions, including a MICA technique: Minimally-invasive Chevron & Akin osteotomy. This technique involves making several small poke incisions around the bunion, using a high speed minimally invasive burr to cut the bone and realigning the toe.
That technique has been shown to have good durability, which means it corrects the deformity for a long time. There’s even been data to suggest that patients have less pain and less stiffness with a minimally invasive approach.”
Here are some tips for maintaining good foot and ankle health:
- Stay consistently active.
- Proper supportive shoe wear is important, and runners should be attentive to replacing worn out shoes.
- Be mindful of uneven ground.
- Yoga is a great option for a combination of stretching, strength and core power.
- Pay attention to a warm up routine that incorporates both dynamic and static stretching.